Quick disconnect nozzle

ABSTRACT

A quick disconnect nozzle intended primarily for irrigation sprinklers, comprising a fitting screwthreaded for connection to a sprinkler outlet and having diametrically disposed L-slots each having a yieldable wall provided with a retainer projection, and a nozzle member having diametrially diametrically pins received in the L-slots and interlocking with the fitting but capable of ready removal manually, the fitting and nozzle member having mating sealing surfaces, and the nozzle members having bores of different diameter or closed off to provide a cap in substitute for a nozzle.

United States Patent 1191 Hart Mar. 26, 1974 [54] QUICK DISCONNECT NOZZLE 3,447,755 6/1969 Cartwright 239/600 x [75] Inventor: Dennis L. Hart, Hacienda Heights, FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Cahf- 1,487,141 6/1967 France 239/600 [73] Assignee: Rain Bird Sprinkler Mfg. C0rp.,

Glendora, Calif. Primary Examiner--M. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant Examiner-John J. Love [22] Flled' 1972 Attorney, Agent, or Firm---Lyon & Lyon [21] Appl. No.: 281,638

[57] ABSTRACT [52] Cl 239/600 239/233 239/391, A quick disconnect nozzle intended primarily for irri- 285/331 285/396 gation sprinklers, comprising a fitting screwthreaded [51] Int. Cl B05b 1/00 for Connection to a sprinkler Outlet and having [58] Fleld of Search 239/391, 397, 230-233, metrically disposed L slots each having a i d bl 239/396, 600; 285/33, 260, 396 wall provided with a retainer projection, and a nozzle member having diametrially diametrically pins re- [56] References cued ceived in the L-slots and interlocking with the fitting U ITED STA S PATENTS but capable of ready removal manually, the fitting and 1,942,358 1/1934 Grathwol 285/396 x n zzl m r ng m g sealing rf n 3,101,906 8/1963 Webber 239/600 X the nozzle members having bores of different diameter 5. 3/1881 R r 35/ X or closed off to provide a cap in substitute for a noz- 3,455,580 7/1969 Howard 285/396 X 1 2,283,672 5/1942 Frances... 285/396 X 3,129,777 4/1964 Haspert 239/600 X 4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures l Z2 /4 I\ f 1 1 24 I I 1 7 t 3 AL QUICK DISCONNECT NOZZLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Full or part circle rotating sprinklers are provided with one or more nozzles. Conventionally, the nozzle end or ends of the sprinkler body is internally screwthreaded to receive an externally screwthreaded nozzle member. It is often desirable to interchange the nozzle members, particularly in agricultural use, to increase or decrease the rate of flow in order to adjust to change in climatic conditions or compensate for plant growth. A wrench or a pair of wrenches are needed for this purpose. To remove one nozzle and substitute another is time consuming, particularly if there are a large number of sprinklers in the system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a quick disconnect nozzle which materially reduces the time required to interchange sprinkler nozzles and is summarized in the following objects:

First, to provide a quick disconnect nozzle which does not require tools; that a nozzle may be removed manually and another substituted in a matter of seconds.

Second, to provide a quick disconnect nozzle which comprises a fitting member intended to be permanently installed in a sprinkler, and a manually removable nozzle member, the fitting and nozzle members having interengaging key and key slot elements, as well as interengaging sealing surfaces.

Third, to provide a quick disconnect nozzle, as indicated in the other objects, wherein, the key slot elements are L-shaped and include yieldable projections engageable with the key elements to retain the nozzle member in place yet capable of deformation to permit attachment or removal of the nozzle member.

Fourth, to provide a quick disconnect nozzle, as indicated in the other objects, wherein, the sealing surfaces are frustoconical and normally have different slopes whereby, when pressed together, either or both surfaces deform to provide a tight seal.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 is a side view of a typical irrigation sprinkler showing two of the quick disconnect nozzles in place.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged exploded view in side elevation of the quick disconnect nozzle.

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken through 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an end view of the fitting member.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary developed view taken from 55 of FIG. 4 showing one of the key slots.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken through 66 of FIG. 2 showing the quick disconnect nozzle in its assembled condition.

FIG. 7 is a further enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken within circle 7 of FIG. 6 with the sealing surfaces separated slightly to indicate their initially converging relation.

A typical irrigation sprinkler suitable for receiving the quick disconnect nozzle includes a sprinkler body I, intended to be mounted on a riser, not shown, and having an upwardly and laterally directed main nozzle stem 2, and an upwardly and laterally directed secondary nozzle stem 3. In many cases, the secondary nozzle stem is omitted.

A frame 4 extends upwardly from the sprinkler body and is provided with a central post, not shown, which receives the hub 5 of an oscillating unit 6. One end of the oscillating unit terminates in a spoon 7, which depends in front of the main nozzle stem 2. The other end of the oscillating unit forms a counterbalance arm 8. The oscillating unit is biased by a spring 9.

The sprinkler rotates intermittently by reason of the fact that a jet of water issuing from the main nozzle stem causes the spoon 7 to oscillate and in doing so repeatedly impacts the frame 4 to turn the nozzle body 1.

The sprinkler illustrated is known as a full circle sprinkler. Often, irrigation sprinklers are provided with mechanism, not shown, which cause the sprinkler to move in a preselected arc and are known as part circle sprinklers. The quick disconnect nozzle may be used with either type of sprinkler.

The quick disconnect coupling includes a fitting member 10 molded of plastic material, such as polyurethane, compounded to have limited resilience. The fitting is provided with external screwthreads 11 for engagement with the standard internal screwthreads provided at the extremities of the main nozzle stem 2 and secondary nozzle stem 3. The fitting member is provided with a tapered or frustoconical bore 12, the walls converging axially outward from the inner end of the fitting member. The outer portion of the fitting mem ber is provided with a cylindrical bore 13, which is larger than the smaller end of the conical bore 12. Formed at the juncture between the conical bore 12 and the cylindrical bore 13 is a forwardly directed frustoconical lip 14 having a greater included angle than the bore 12 so that the lip 14 terminates in a relatively sharp edge and is capable of resilient axial deformation.

Confronting the cylindrical bore 13 are two L-shaped key slots 15, each including an axial portion 16, one circumferential edge of which is tapered or essentially helical as indicated by 17. An arcuate portion 18 extends circumferentially from each axial portion 16. At the juncture between each axial portion and its corresponding arcuate portion is a yielclable retainer rib 19.

The fitting member 10 receives a cap member 20, also molded of plastic material having limited resilience. The cap member includes a stem 21, which fits the cylindrical bore 13. The inner portion terminates in a frustoconical end face 22, which engages the lip 14. The included angle of the end face 22 is a few degrees greater than the included angle of the lip 14, as is indicated in FIG. 7, so that the conical lip may deflect into conformity with the end face 22 as the cap member 20 is forced into the fitting member 10.

The cap member is provided with a frustoconical bore 23 forming a continuation of the frustoconical bore 12. The bore 23 merges into a cylindrical orifice bore 24, shown in solid line and in dotted line to indicate that the orifice bore may vary in diameter.

The stem 21 is provided with a pair of diametrically disposed key projections 25 which fit the L-shaped key slots 15. The dimensions of the key projections and the L-slots and their relationship dimensionally to the end face 22 and the frustoconical lip 14 are such that when the key projections 25 enter into the arcuate portions 18, the lip 14 and end face 22 are pressed into sealing engagement as indicated in FIG. 6. Also, when the stem 21 is turned to cause the projections 25 to enter the portions 18, the ribs 19 are resiliently deflected. The ribs 19 are beveled to facilitate this movement and also to retain the projections snugly in place.

The outer extremity of the cap member 20 is provided with a flange 26, the periphery of which is knurled as indicated by 27, so that the cap member may be attached to the fitting member by manual engagement with the flange 26.

The quick disconnect nozzles are used as follows:

The fitting members are secured in the outlets of a plurality of irrigation sprinklers. The connections are sufficiently tight that the cap members may be manually inserted or removed without loosening the fitting members. It is a common practice to change the nozzles of irrigation sprinklers to increase or decrease the rate of discharge so as to meet varying weather conditions and to compensate for plant growth; therefore, in the course of use of a sprinkler, the nozzles may be interchanged many times. By reason of the fact that the cap members may be readily inserted or removed without tools, the time required to interchange a group of nozzles is reduced to a minimum. As indicated in FIG. 6, several sets of cap members are provided having different effective nozzle areas to meet the various conditions of use.

in some cases, particularly sprinklers having more than one outlet, it is desired to close off an outlet. This can be done by providing cap members which are identical to the members shown except that orifice bore 24 is closed.

It will be noted that the frustoconical bore 12 of each fitting member and the corresponding frustoconical bore 23 of the cap member define a single cone so that the connection between the two members is essentially turbulent free; that is, the resulting flow pattern may be identical to that of a single piece nozzle member.

While a particular embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it is not intended to limit the same to the details of the construction set forth, but instead, the invention embraces such changes, modifications and equivalents of the various parts and their relationships as come within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A quick disconnect nozzle for an irrigation sprinkler having a screwthreaded outlet, the nozzle comprising:

a. a tubular mounting member screwthreaded for connection to the sprinkler outlet, the mounting member including an annular axially directed sealing shoulder intermediate its ends, an outwardly tapering bore terminating at the sealing shoulder, a cylindrical bore continuing outwardly from the sealing shoulder, and opposed key channels in the side walls of the cylindrical bore accessible from the outer end of the mounting member and tenninating in circumferential extensions adjacent the sealing shoulder, there being integral yieldable retainer elements at the junctures between the key channels and their extensions;

b. a tubular nozzle tip member including an axially directed sealing end surface at its inner end engageable with the sealing shoulder, an outwardly tapered bore forming a continuation of the surface of the tapered bore within the mounting member,

5 a cylindrical orifice bore of preselected diameter continuing from the tapered bore, and opposed key projections fitting the key channels and their circumferential extensions and yieldably restrained by said retainer elements.

2. A quick disconnect nozzle as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a. the sealing shoulder and sealing end surface are frusto-conical and have different included angles for initial line contact, at least one of the members being formed of material capable of resilient deformation to effect surface-to-surface contact.

3. A quick disconnect means for an irrigation sprinkler having at least one screwthreaded outlet, the nozzle comprising:

a. a tubular fitting member screwthreaded for connection to a sprinkler outlet, and including an axially directed sealing surface and an outwardly converging frustoconical bore;

b. a cap member including an axially directed sealing 25 surface, an outwardly converging frusto-conical bore portion forming a continuation of the conical surface of the tubular fitting bore, and a cylindrical bore intersecting the smaller end of the frustoconical bore portion, whereby cylindrical bore portions of different diameters and different lengths may be preselected;

c. said sealing surfaces being frusto-conical and have different included angles, and at least one of the members being formed of yieldable material whereby the sealing surfaces may be pressed into conformity;

d. and key and key slot means incorporated in said members and interengageable to press the sealing surfaces into sealing engagement.

4. A quick disconnect means for an irrigation sprinkler having at least one screwthreaded outlet, the nozzle comprising:

a. a tubular fitting member screwthreaded for connection to a sprinkler outlet, and including an axially directed sealing surface and an outwardly converging frusto-conical bore;

a cap member including an axially directed sealing surface, an outwardly converging frusto-conical bore portion forming a continuation of the conical surface of the tubular fitting bore, and a cylindrical bore intersecting the smaller end of the frustoconical bore portion, whereby cylindrical bore portions of different diameters and different lengths may be preselected;

c. and key and key slot means incorporated in said members and interengageable to press the sealing surfaces into sealing engagement, the key slot means including axial portions for insertion of the keys and circumferential portions for retaining the keys against axial displacement, and integral yieldable retainer rubs disposed in the circumferential portions and requiring a predetermined force to effect insertion or removal of the keys. 

1. A quick disconnect nozzle for an irrigation sprinkler having a screwthreaded outlet, the nozzle comprising: a. a tubular mounting member screwthreaded for connection to the sprinkler outlet, the mounting member including an annular axially directed sealing shoulder intermediate its ends, an outwardly tapering bore terminating at the sealing shoulder, a cylindrical bore continuing outwardly from the sealing shoulder, and opposed key channels in the side walls of the cylindrical bore accessible from the outer end of the mounting member and terminating in circumferential extensions adjacent the sealing shoulder, there being integral yieldable retainer elements at the junctures between the key channels and their extensions; b. a tubular nozzle tip member including an axially directed sealing end surface at its inner end engageable with the sealing shoulder, an outwardly tapered bore forming a continuation of the surface of the tapered bore within the mounting member, a cylindrical orifice bore of preselected diameter continuing from the tapered bore, and opposed key projections fitting the key channels and their circumferential extensions and yieldably restrained by said retainer elements.
 2. A quick disconnect nozzle as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. the sealing shoulder and sealing end surface are frusto-conical and have different included angles for initial line contact, at least one of the members being formed of material capable of resilient deformation to effect surface-to-surface contact.
 3. A quick disconnect means for an irrigation sprinkler having at least one screwthreaded outlet, the nozzle comprising: a. a tubular fitting member screwthreaded for connection to a sprinkler outlet, and including an axially directed sealing surface and an outwardly converging frustoconical bore; b. a cap member including an axially directed sealing surface, an outwardly converging frusto-conicaL bore portion forming a continuation of the conical surface of the tubular fitting bore, and a cylindrical bore intersecting the smaller end of the frusto-conical bore portion, whereby cylindrical bore portions of different diameters and different lengths may be preselected; c. said sealing surfaces being frusto-conical and have different included angles, and at least one of the members being formed of yieldable material whereby the sealing surfaces may be pressed into conformity; d. and key and key slot means incorporated in said members and interengageable to press the sealing surfaces into sealing engagement.
 4. A quick disconnect means for an irrigation sprinkler having at least one screwthreaded outlet, the nozzle comprising: a. a tubular fitting member screwthreaded for connection to a sprinkler outlet, and including an axially directed sealing surface and an outwardly converging frusto-conical bore; b. a cap member including an axially directed sealing surface, an outwardly converging frusto-conical bore portion forming a continuation of the conical surface of the tubular fitting bore, and a cylindrical bore intersecting the smaller end of the frusto-conical bore portion, whereby cylindrical bore portions of different diameters and different lengths may be preselected; c. and key and key slot means incorporated in said members and interengageable to press the sealing surfaces into sealing engagement, the key slot means including axial portions for insertion of the keys and circumferential portions for retaining the keys against axial displacement, and integral yieldable retainer rubs disposed in the circumferential portions and requiring a predetermined force to effect insertion or removal of the keys. 